Rules Related To I’tikaf For Women

Can a woman perform I’tikaaf for gaining rewards and being close to Allah Subhanawa Ta’ala ?

is I’tikaaf by a woman Sunnah or Nafl or Mustahab?

if so, which place would be more appropriate for her to do so? Fox example, there are only 2 bed rooms, 1 drawing room, 1 kitchen at her house.

if a woman is sure that her menstruation will start on 24th or 25th of Ramadhan, in that case, should she start the I’tikaaf?

is it must for do I’tikaaf for full 9 or 10 days? Can it be done for any number of days? like, for 3 or 5 days, if not fully?

if a woman does not continue for 9 or 10 days, should she do any Kadha in later days for missing days? By missing, I mean, intensionally for menstruation or without menstruation.

At the time of I’tikaaf, which place a woman can go upto besides her I’tikaaf place?

Being at the I’tikaaf place, can a woman have family/worldly discussion with other family members?

ANSWER:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Yes, a woman can perform i’tikaffor gaining rewards and coming closer to Allah. If she is married, she will need the permission of her husband to perform i’tikaf. [i]

I’tikafis also Sunnah for women in the last 10 days or Ramadan (from sunset on the 20th of Ramadan until the crescent of Eid is sighted), or nafl if she does it any other time. If a woman does i’tikaf for less than 10 days (for example, 3 or 4 days in the last 10 days of Ramadan) then this will also be considered as a nafli’tikaf. [ii]

She will have to perform i’tikafin the specific place where she prays her Salah at home. If there is no such specific area, then she can appoint a specific place in her home and make i’tikaf in that area.

If a woman prays Salah in one portion of her home, but wants to make i’tikaf in another portion of her home, then before sitting in i’tikaf she should make the intention [niyyah] that from now on she will pray Salah in this place then this will be correct and permissible for her to do so.

A big room cannot in its entirety be designated for i’tikaf, but a small room can. However, a space comfortable enough for her to sleep, eat and sit can be designated in a big room for i’tikaf. This area will be like the masjid for the woman. She cannot exit this area without a permitted excuse. [iii]

In a complete Sunnah i’tikaf, (which starts from sunset on the 20thof Ramadan until the crescent of Eid is sighted) if she gets her menstrual period [haidh] then she will abandon her i’tikaf. However, she will be required to make up [qadha] one day of i’tikaf (with fasting) from sunset to sunset (24 hours). No matter when her complete Sunnah i’tikaf breaks (whether two days remain or eight days remain), the qadha will only be for 1 day.

If she becomes clean while Ramadan remains she can complete this qadha of 1 day then and the fast of Ramadan will suffice her.

If Ramadan has finished then she can make it up another day when she is making up her missed fasts, and if not then, then whenever she keeps a nafl fast. [iv][v][vi]

Yes, she can do it for any number of days. However, this will be regarded as a nafl i’tikafsince a complete Sunnah i’tikaf will be one that is from sunset on the 20th of Ramadan until the crescent of Eid is sighted.

Yes, if she intended the complete Sunnah i’tikaf(from sunset on the 20th of Ramadan until the crescent of Eid is sighted) but broke it or it was broken due to her menstrual period [haidh] then she will make up [qadha] for 1 day. See #4.

She will stay in her designated place for i’tikafunless there is a need to come outside of it such as relieving herself or for the purpose of food and drink. If there is someone who can bring her food and drink, then it will not be permissible to leave for this purpose. [vii]

According to need it will be permissible to have some worldly discussions, however, she should try and maintain the true spirit of i’tikafby turning towards Allah and cutting herself off from unnecessary worldly talk. [viii][ix]